Dear Members,
HM Government recently made a series of announcements on public sector pay awards for 25/26. By accepting the recommendations of several pay review bodies, the following pay award outcomes were published:
- a 4% headline award for doctors, dentists, and teachers in England, as well as prison officers in England and Wales
- resident doctors will get an extra £750 top-up, which brings their average award to 5.4%
- a 3.6% rise for NHS staff in England, including nurses and midwives
- a 3.25% rise for civil servants, including senior civil servants (SCS) in the NCA
- a 4.5% rise for members of the UK armed forces, with 3.75% for senior military staff.
It is anticipated that NCA Remuneration Review Body (NCARRB) will formalise their recommendations in early Summer when they will be published alongside the HM Government response.
In its earlier written evidence to the NCARRB, the NCA reported that it had budgeted for a 2.9% pay award effective from the 1 August 2025.
With inflation expected to rise to 3.5%, the NCOA would find any award for NCA officers in Grades 6 – 1 below that already agreed for the SCS as wholly unacceptable.
Members will be kept updated as discussion on this year’s pay award take place with the Agency.
Steve Bond
General Secretary NCOA